Suction cleaner



July 10, 1934. w. D, SELLERS Y 5,

I sucnon CLEANER Filed April 27 1931- 'sheets-sneet i five/L607 I .D Sci/e715 3754162655 5 I July 10, 1934. w o. SELLERS SUCTION CLEANER Filed April 21. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zgdzwn fl 5612671,

tOjc'ma-ss July 10, 1934. w. o. SELLERS SUCTION CLEANER Filed April 27. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 10, 1934 1,965,614

UNITED STATES PATENT omen SUCTION CLEANER wuuam 1). Sellers, Oak Park, n1., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation'of Ohio Application April 27, 1931 Serial No. 533,109

' 17 Claims. (01.15-14) The present invention relates to suction embodying a modification of the present invencleaners in general and particularly to anew tion; and novel suction cleaner construction which Fig. 8 is a transverse cross section thru the embodies a new cleaning principle. More nozzle of a cleaner embodying a still further specifically the invention comprises the provimodification of the present invention; co sion of a suction cleaner in which means are Fig. 91s a transverse section upon a different provided: first, to lift the surface covering plane thru the nozzle of the modification shown undergoing cleaning from the supporting surin Fig. 8,; face; second, to agitate, vibrate and dislodge Fig. 10 is a cross section thru the nomle of a 10 the embedded foreign matter in the surface cleaner embodying a still further-modification of co covering; third, to direct a flowof cleaning or the present invention; dirt-removing air past the exact point of surface- In the operation of a suction cleaner embodycovering agitation for'the purpose of removing ing positive agitation means, which are now and carrying away the dislodged foreign matter. conceded to be absolutely necessary for efficient It is an object of the present invention to prosurface-covering cleaning, it is necessary to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is a vide means to lift the surface covering from the further object to provide a new and improved supporting s rface in order that the agitating suction cleaner embodying anovel principle of means may act thereon effectively and without agitation and air-cleaning. A still further object jury. This lifting function is ordina y D is to provide means, in a suction cleaner, to lift formed by the c a nozzle, more u a y. '15 the surface covering. undergoing cleaning from by the reduced pressure within the cleaner nomle the supporting surface, means to violently agiwhich is created by the suction-creating means tate the lifted surface covering, and still other Of t e The agitator Of the usual suction means to direct cleaning air directly past the cleaner is positioned within the suction nozzle point at which the surface covering is being agie tending the length thereof parallel to the tated. Still another object is the provision, in a nozzle p and is 1 Bethe-ted y the c ea suction cleaner, of a construction embodvin a, motor. The cleaning air enters the home under nozzle which is adapted to contact the surface the p thereof, Which are Positioned 1190B PP covering and to contain air at pressureless than Site Sides the agitator, end is drawn p y atmospheric, of a housing containing air at atto the fan chamber. As the lips are Spaced an mospheric pressure positioned within the nozzle appreciable distance from the Point 1 Surfacewhich directs that air towards the surface covercovering agitation, that the p t Series 0! ing, and of a secondary nozzle within the a points at which the agitator contacts the surface nozzle containing air at a pressure lower than-that eeverinflin its Operation. t is c ear that. in the 35 in the first nozzle and which is adapted to draw usual e the cleaning does t D 11 air from said housing and under a surface covere y y Over the point of tat ning agitator. Other and more specific objects will In the suction cleaner constructed in accordappear upon reading the following specification ance with the pre en invention, w v r, th and claims and upon considering in connection cleaning Passing hr h n zzle is directed 40 therewith the attached drawings. g to the exact point of surface covering agitation In the drawings, in which preferred embodivthereby effecting g eate cleaning thanis possible ments of the present invention are disclosed: with the Ordinary Suction c aner. The means Fig. 1 is a side view of a modem suction cleaner y which h dwireble, and heor ica ly corembodying the present invention showing a secreel, result is Obtained 18 hereinafter ully ex- 45 tion thru the nozzle upon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; D fl Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 2-2 of the Referrinfl new to the drawings. and Fl u 1 l a r h ninFig, 1; to 6 in particulan the first preferred embodi- Fig, 31s a, section upon th l nes 3-3 of Fig, 1; ment of the present invention is disclosed. The Fig. 4 is a rear view of the cleanershown in nozzle 1 0f the machine 15 Provided with W d 50 Fig'. 1, showing the power-transmitting means; front and rear lips 2 and 3, respectively, which Fig. 5 is a partial section upon the lines 5-5 are relatively broad as compared to the usual of Fig. 2; nozzle lips, and preferably are curved to con- Fig. 6 is a partial side view showing the nozzle form to the surface contour in the raised posiof the cleaner disclosed in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive; tion. The fan chamber 4 is shown as formed in- 55 Fig. 7 is a section thru the nozzle of a cleaner tegrally in the same casting with the nonle 1 no machine.

movably supported by means of spaced wheels 10, 10, while the rear of the machine is carried by a castor 11' which is provided with height-adjusting means indicated generally by the reference character 12.. A handle 13, of the usual pivoted type, is connected to the motor casing 6 and provides means by which the machine may be moved by the operator upon the supporting surface.

An agitator 14 of the positive agitation type, and which is provided with recessed boaters 15, 15 upon its surface, is positioned within the nozzle 1, being rotatably mounted upon a stationary shaft 16 by means of a bearing 1'? at each of its ends. The stationary shaft is itself non-rotatably supported in the end walls 18, 18 of the nozzle, one of said walls being preferably removable to aid in the disassembly of the construction.

a At one side of the agitator 14, extending parallel thereto and also supported by the end walls 18, 18 of the nozzle 1, is what is called an air tunnel or housing 19. At its-ends the housing 19 is provided with openings or inlets 20, 20. which connect to the exterior atmosphere, or ambient, thru the end walls 18, 18 of the nozzle, said inlets or openings being of such size that the pressure within the air tunnel is at all times substantially the same as atmospheric. Except for the open lugs 28, 28 the air tunnel 19 is closed at itsends which lie against the end walls 18, 18 of the nozzle being suitably secured thereto as by screws 21, 21. The body of the air tunnel resembles an inverted U there being provided a narrow mouth defined by two parallel extending edges or lips 22, 22, the said mouth being immediately adjacent and extending parallel to theagitator .14. The side wall of the tunnel immediately adjacent the agitator 14 is curved to conform to the contour thereof and, because it is substantially in contact with the agitator surface, provides an effective seal against the leakage of air therebetween. The sealing relationship of the, tunnel and the agitator surface is made possible thru the use of recessed heaters on the agitator.

Positioned immediately in the rear of the agitator and extending parallel thereto is what is preferably called a secondary nozzle, said nozzle being indicated by the reference character 23. In the embodiment shown the nozzle 23 is cast tegrally with nozzle 1 thoughit is to be understood that the particular manner in which these parts are assembled is not of theessence of the invention. Nozzle 23 opens directly into the eye 5 01' the fan chamber closing a portion thereof from the main nozzle 1, in fact, the opening of the eye 5 into the nozzle 23 is greater in area than its opening into the nozzle 1, thergiby giving to nozzle 23 the greater part of the suctioncreating power of the fan 7. The mouth of the nozzle 23 extends parallel to the line of contact which the agitator 14 makes with the surface covering undergoing cleaning and is defined by the edges 2% and 25. As shown in the present The forward end of the cleaner is eeann 23 -the'rebetween. The rear lip 25 of the sec-'- ondary nozzle extends downwardly to a position adjacent the line of contact of the agitator with the surface covering and substantially into the plane of the mouth formed by the lips 22, 22 of theair tunnel 19 being adapted to contact the lifted surface covering in the operation of the machine. v

The rotating force for the agitator 14 is received thru a longitudinally-extending shaft 26 which extends rearwardly from the nozzle, where it is rotatably supported by suitable bearings such as 2'1, 2'7, to the rear of the motor casing where it is carried by means of a bearing 29 and is provided with a suitable pulley 28. The agitator 14 is provided upon its surface, at the point at which the shaft 26 extends into the nozzle, with a suitable gear, indicated by the reference character 30. The shaft 26 is provided with a cooperating gear 31 immediately adjacent the agitator at this point and any rotation of the shaft necessarily results in the rotation of the agitator. The pulley 28 at the rear end of the shaft is connected, by meansv of a power-transmitting belt 32, to a cooperating pulley 33 carried by the extended end of the motor shaft 8. A suitable housing 34 is provided which encloses the pulleys 28 and 33 and the belt 32.

In the operation of the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the aforedescribed embodiment of the invention upon the starting of the cleaner motor by the operator as by closing a suitable circuit-controlling switch, the motor shaft 8 is rotated and a reduced pressure is created within the fan chamber 4 by the revolv- ,ing fan 7 resulting in the drawing of air thru results in the rotation of the power-transmitting.

shaft 26.which is connected thereto thru the driving belt 32 and the pulleys 33 and,28, as aforedescribed. The rotation of the shaft 26 is transmitted thru the gears 30 and 31, to the agitator 14 resulting in the rotation of that member-at high speed. The rotation of the agitator 14 violently vibrates and beats the surface covering, which is lifted into contact therewith by the reduced pressure in nozzle 1, as the edges of the recessed boaters 15, 15 contact therewith. The reduced pressure in the fan chamber 4 is also transmitted to the secondary nozzle 23, in fact the pressure therein is less than in the nozzle 1 for, as is clearly seen in Figure 2, a greater area of the inlet 5 of the fan chamber is open to the secondary nozzle 23 than is connected to the main nozzle 1. This is desirable as the only 'suc-= tlon required for the nozzle 1 is that sufficient to lift the surface covering and hold it against the nozzle lips, while the suction within the noz zle 23 is that which is to move the cleaning air.

' ing elements are positioned above ea ers.

The ratio of the opening of the eye 5 to the main nozzle and to the secondary nozzle can be varied by the designer as required to obtain the greatest efficiency. The suction within the secondary noz- Me 23 results in the drawing of air between the lower surface-contacting lip and the rotary agitator mouth of the secondary nozzle being The most available source I is that found in theair tunnel 19 which, as aforedescribed, is positioned immediately adjacent the agitator 14 and upon the opposite side thereof from the secondary nozzle. Within the air tunnel present in the machine. As a result of this difference of pressure, air is drawn from the tunnel or housing 19 thru the mouth thereof, as defined by the lips 22, 22, past the line of contact of the agitator 14 and the surface covering and into the secondary nozzle 23 and so on into the fan chamber. The result of this construction is, therefore, that the cleaning air has come into contact with the surface covering at exactlythe point at which the covering is agitated by the agitator. This relationship is, as before stated, extremely desirable'as it results in maximum cleaning efilciency.

In Figure 'l a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The main nozzle 1 with its broad sealing lips 2 and 3, the fan chamber 4 with its fan '7, the motor casing 6 and the front supporting wheels 10, are shown and are constructed precisely as in the first embodiment. In this modification, however, use has been made of a rotary agitator of the type in which the beatthe peripheral surface instead of below, as in the first embodiment. This change has made necessary certain structural modifications in the air tunnel and secondary nozzle which are hereinafter fully pointed out. According to this modification the agitator body, which is indicated by the reference character 35, is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 36 and is provided with positive beating elements 3'7, 3'! which extend above the normal peripheral surface. The air tunnel 38 is provided at its end with an opening 39 to the exinstance,the lips of the tunnel mouth are positioned closely adjacent the line of contact which the rotary agitator makes with the surface covering undergoing cleaning and are of two different types. The outer lip, indicated by the reference character 40, is relatively broad and is adapted to contact the surface covering and limit the air flow from tunnel 38 into the main nozzle 1. The inner lip, indicated by the reference character 41, is exceedingly thin or narrow, being of a type known as pile-penetrating and not only ofiers but slight resistance to the passage of air between itself and the surface covering undergoing cleaning but in effect positively agitates and disturbs the pile of the surface covering as it is moved thereover. The secondary nozzle, which is indicated by the reference character 42, is also provided with an outer lip 43 of the broad sealing type which restricts and limits the flow of air into the secondary nozzle from the main nozzle 1. The inner lip 44 of the secondary nozzle is relatively thin and, as'in thecase of the lip 41 the air tunnel, offers but little resistance to the entrance of air and also functions as an agitator. In the present embodiment the presence of positive beating elements 3'7, 37 on the character 5'? and which rotor surface prevents the air tunnel and the secondary nozzle from closely enclosing the agitator to prevent the fiow of air therearound. To overcome this difficulty a plate 45 is provided which extends between the air tunnel 38 and the secondary nozzle 42 and entirely seals the agitator from the enclosing nozzle 1 and prevents the flow tunnel to the main nozzle or from past the agitator.

ment is similar to that first described except that the agitation of the rotary agitator is supplemented by the pile-fiexure .agitation of the pilepenetrating lips of the tunnel and the secondary nozzle.

In Figures 8 and 9 a still further modified embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in which the air tunnel is indicated by the reference character 46 and the secondary nozzle by the reference character 4']. In the place of the rotary agitator, which has characterized the previous modifications, an oscillating or reciproeating scratching agitator 48 has been provided. The actuation of the oscillating agitator is accomplished by means of a cam 49 carried at the forward end of the power transmitting shaft 26 which is driven as in the first modification. The agitating member 48 is provided with an upstanding finger 50 which seats at its upper end within the cam-way and upon the rotationv of the between the two positions of maxim displacement indicated by the dotted lines. As in the previous modifications theflow of cleaning air is from the air tunnel into the secondary nozzle and will be, as is clearly seen from the drawings, directly past the surface covering at the point of agitation.

Referring now to Figure 10 in particular, a still further modified embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in which the sealing lips on the main nozzle'of the previous embodiments have been eliminated and in their place pilepenetrating lips 51 and 52 have been provided. Within the nozzle the air tunnel, indicated by the reference character a relatively broad sealing lip 54. nozzle is indicated by the reference character 55 and is provided with a broad lip 56. Between the two is positioned a rotary agitator of the screw type which is indicated by the reference is adapted to be rotated in the manner shown in Figure 1 but which, instead of beating the surface covering functions merely to deflect and bend the pile thereof.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having surface-contacting lips, an agitator in said nozzle, a hollow member in said nozzle interiorly connected with the atmosphere and having an opening to direct cleaning air adjacent said agitator, a second hollow member having an opening adjacent the opposite side of said agitator to admit dirt-laden air, and suction-creating means eonnectedindividually to said nozzle and second hollow member.

2. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having surface-contacting lips, means supporting the nozzle with said lips above the surface covering undergoing cleaning, an agitator in said nozzle, a hollow member open to the atmosphere and having an opening within said nozzle adjacent the agitator adapted to convey and direct air at at- .mospheric pressure, a second hollow member having an opening adjacent the opposite side of to said said agitator adapted to convey air therefrom, and suctionrcreating means connected individually to said nozzle and to said second hollow member.

3. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having surface-contacting lips, an agitator in said nozzle adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, a hollow memberinteriorly connected with the atmosphere and having an opening extending along said agitator between said nozzle lips, a second hollow member upon mentioned hollow member into said second mentioned hollow member.

4. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having surface-contacting lips, an agitator in said nozzle, a housing interiorly connected to the external atmosphere positioned in said nozzle between said lips and having an opening extending at the side of said agitator, and means to draw air from said nozzle and from said housing and under said agitator.

5. In a suction cleaner, agitating means, mean." to direct a flow of air to said agitator, means to draw air from said second means under said agitator, and means to lift the surface covering undergoing cleaning against said agitator.

6. In a suction cleaner, agitating means, a housing open to the atmosphere and having a said nozzle.

7. In a suction cleaner, a main nozzle, a motor, suction-creating means operatively connected to said motor, a rotary agitator in said main nozzle operatively connected to said motor, an air tun- I contacting mouth and interiorly connected to the atmosphere positioned adjacent said agitator, a relatively broadlip defining one side of said tunresistance to under than said broad lip.

9. In a suction cleaner, a main nozzle, surfacecontacting lips defining the mouth of said nozzle, :1 motor, suction-creating means connected to said motor, an agitator in said main nozzle connected to said motor, a secondary nozzle having a mouth closely adjacent said agitator, and suction-creata secondary nozzle 1 10. In a suction cleaner, a main nozzle, broad sealing lips defining the mouth of said nozzle, a motor, suction-creating means connected to said latter adjacent said agitator than in the main nozzle. 7

11. In a suction cleaner, a main nozzle, a motor, suction-creating means operatlvely connected to said suction-creating means.

12. In a suction cleaner, a main nozzle includ- I the side of said agitator, and suction-creating means con? 16c In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having a relatively wide mouth, surface-contacting lips defining the sides of said nozzle mouth, an air tunnel having a relatively narrow mouth positioned in said nozzle, a surface-contacting lip defining a side of said turmel mouth, a secondary nozzle positioned in said main nozzle having a relatively narrow mouth, a surface-contacting lip defining a side of said secondary nozzle mouth, and suctioncreating means connected to said nozzles and adapted to produce a higher suction in said secondary nozzle than in said main nozzle, said tunnel and said secondary nozzle being so arranged that air passing from the iormer to the latter passes over the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

17. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle having lips defining a mouth, suction-creating means, said nozzle being connected to said means, means to convey a stream of cleaning air into said nozzle between said lips and against a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means within said nozzle to remove the air exhausted from said last mentioned means from said nozzle,said last mentioned means being connected to said suctionproducing means.

' WILLIAM D. SELLERS. 

